Planning to be away from James City County on Election Day on business or vacation? Are you unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability? Are you in the military or in college? You may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

A registered and qualified voter can vote an absentee ballot by mail or in-person at the Voter Registrar’s Office as early as 45 days before a November General Election. For a complete list of qualifications, visit jamescitycountyva.gov/vote or call 757-253-6868.

Any voter registered in James City County who is interested in voting with an absentee ballot must complete an absentee ballot application that is available online at jamescitycountyva.gov/vote, at the Voter Registrar’s Office, 101-B Mounts Bay Rd. or by calling 757-253-6868.

Completed applications for a mailed ballot must be returned to the Voter Registrar’s Office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Applications can be returned by mail: Voter Registration and Elections, P.O. Box 3567, Williamsburg, VA 23187-3567, by fax: 757-253-6875 or in person. Completed applications to vote in person may be submitted until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.

Voting an absentee ballot by mail
If your application is approved, you will receive an absentee ballot in the mail. Your completed ballot must be returned to the Voter Registrar’s Office by mail (USPS, DHL, FedEx or other courier service) or hand-delivered by you. No one else can return your ballot for you. All mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2012

Applicants cannot both apply to register to vote in-person and vote absentee in-person at the same time. If you register to vote in-person, an absentee ballot cannot be issued until five days after you are registered.